Multipurpose support

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose support includes at least one hook fixed on at least one slat. The support has one first and one second row of at least two mutually parallel slats. The two rows of slats are parallel to a common plane and the slats of the first row cross the slats of the second row. The at least one hook forms an angle of less than 45° with the plane. The hook is fixed in an intersection of one of the slats of the first row with one of the slats of the second row.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multiple-use holder comprising atleast one hook fixed to at least one slat. The holder is intended for,among other things, storing hollow objects such as glasses, cups,tankards, bottles, feeding bottles and various kinds of pots, or forobjects such as keys, necklaces and ties, or for flat objects such aspostcards, booklets and magazines. A holder of this kind is usuallysupported by or fixed to a vertical surface, such as a wall.

According to the invention, a holder of the type defined above ischaracterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, a first row and asecond row of at least two mutually parallel slats, both rows of slatsbeing parallel to the same plane and the slats of the first rowintersecting the slats of the second row and, on the other hand, atleast one hook forming with the said plane an angle of less than 45°,the hook(s) being fixed in a site of intersection of a slat belonging tothe first row with a slat belonging to the second row.

Each site of intersection of the holder is preferably associated with ahook.

The angle formed by the hook with the plane parallel to the two rows ofslats is preferably about 20°.

There are at least two slats in each row but the number of slats can bemuch greater in each of the rows. This number depends on the area of theholder and on its shape.

In each row, the slats are advantageously arranged at regular intervals.However, these intervals may be irregular depending on the artisticeffect which it is wished to give to the holder.

The slats of any one row are advantageously of the same width, thiswidth being also advantageously the same for the slats of the first andsecond rows.

The length of the slats of each row depends on the overall outline ofthe holder, which may be of any shape, such as rectangular, triangular,circular or other.

The slats of the first row may intersect the slats of the second row atany angle. Advantageously, the slats of the first row are perpendicularto the slats of the second row. When the holder is fixed to a verticalsurface, the slats of the first row are preferably vertical and theslats of the second row horizontal.

The slats of a first row preferably comprise depressions so that each isable to house a slat belonging to the second row at their site ofintersection. The form of these depressions will vary depending on theangle of intersection of the slats of the first row with the slats ofthe second row. Advantageously, the slats of both first and second rowscomprise depressions so that the slats of the first row and of thesecond row fit together via their respective depressions in the sites ofintersection. By this means it is possible to produce a flat assembly atthe site of intersection of a slat belonging to the first row with aslat belonging to the second row.

According to the invention, as explained above, at least one hook isfixed in the site of intersection of a slat belonging to the first rowwith a slat belonging to the second row. This hook is advantageouslystraight, but could be slightly curved. In a preferred embodiment, thehook consists of a tongue that is fixed in the vicinity of one of itsends to the site of intersection between a slat belonging to the firstrow and a slat belonging to the second row, the other end being free.The free end may be of any shape, and in particular is rounded. All ofthe hooks are situated on the same side of the holder, when the holderis designed to be fixed to a flat surface.

The tongue is preferably arranged in such a way that its centre line,when projected, coincides with the centre line of the slat of the firstrow or with that of the slat of the second row intersecting in the siteof intersection to which the tongue is fixed.

Where the holder is designed to be fixed to a vertical surface, theslats of the first row being vertical, the hooks advantageously allpoint upwards, this arrangement being particularly useful for draininghollow objects, such as glasses or bottles. However, the hooks could bearranged horizontally, e.g. for holding objects such as necklaces orties.

In the preferred embodiment, the tongue forming the hook isadvantageously fixed to the site of intersection by a wedge-shaped partforming an angle equal to that which the hook forms with the planeparallel to the two rows of slats. This part may be a separate part butis preferably an integral part of the tongue forming the hook. In thiscase, the wedge-shaped part is advantageously fitted into a depressionformed in a slat belonging to the first or second row. In this way, inthe slats of the first or second rows, a depression may be formed onboth sides of any slat at the site of intersection.

The hook can be fixed to the site of intersection by any known means,e.g. glue, nails or screws.

In a preferred embodiment, fixing takes place at the sites ofintersection using a flat-headed screw and a wing nut. The holder cantherefore be sold as a kit and assembled at the place of use, the screwsbeing used to fix together, at a site of intersection, a slat belongingto the first row with a slat belonging to the second row, plus the hook.

This holder may be made of any material, such as wood, plastic or metal,the slats and the hooks being preferably made from the same material. Ina particularly preferred embodiment the slats and the hooks are ofbamboo.

The description provided below, which refers to the appended drawing, oftwo embodiments of the holder will enable the invention to be understoodmore clearly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment prior to assembly, and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the second embodiment after assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 the holder is given the overall number 1. The holder 1consists of two rows of slats, 2, 2 a and 3, 3 a, the slats 2 and 2 a ofthe first row being vertical and the slats 3 and 3 a of the second rowbeing horizontal. The slats 2, 2 a and the slats 3, 3 a are thereforeperpendicular to each other and both parallel to the same plane P.

In FIG. 1, only two slats 2, 2 a of the first row and two slats 3, 3 aof the second row are shown. The number of slats in each row may ofcourse be greater. In the embodiment depicted, the slats 2, 2 a are ofthe same width and the slats 3, 3 a are also of the same width.

At the site of intersection C of the slats 2, 2 a with the slats 3, 3 a,the slats 2, 2 a contain quadrilateral depressions 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 dlet into the thickness of the slats and each of these depressions housesa slat belonging to the second row, namely slat 3 in the case ofdepressions 4 a and 4 c and slat 3 a in the case of depressions 4 b and4 d. Hooks 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, 5 d are fixed to slats 2 and 2 a,respectively, on the sites of intersection C. All hooks are identical,so only hook 5 a will be described in detail.

Hook 5 a is composed of a tongue 6 a at the base of which is awedge-shaped component 7 a forming an integral part of the tongue 6 a.The wedge 7 a forms an angle of approximately 20°; consequently thetongue 6 a forms with the slat 2 an angle a of approximately 20°. Thetongue 6 a is nailed through its wedge-shaped portion to the slat 2. Allthe hooks 5 a 5 b, 5 c and 5 d point upwards. In the embodimentillustrated, slats 2 and 2 a each have a hole 8, 8 a at their upper endfor fastening the holder to a vertical surface. Other fastening meansare also possible.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the holder according to theinvention. In these figures, the same numbers are used to denote thesame parts.

In FIG. 2 it can be seen that slat 2 of the first row contains, in thethickness of the slat, at each site of intersection C, two depressions,one depression 4 a intended for slat 3 of the second row and, on theother side of the slat, a second depression 9 a intended for the hook 5a.

The wedge-shaped portion 7 a and the depression 9 a have the same areaand so can be brought into contact when the wedge-shaped part 7 a of thetongue 6 a is fitted into the depression 9 a.

In this embodiment, the hook 5 a is fixed in the site of intersection Cbetween slats 2 and 3 by a system composed of a screw 10 and a wing nut11 with two washers 12 and 13. For this purpose the wedge-shaped part 7a, slat 2 and slat 3 are drilled so that the screw 10 can pass throughthem. In this embodiment, in which the parts are assembled in each siteof intersection using a single screw, the depression 4 a serves toprevent any excursion of the slat 3 relative to the slat 2 and, moreparticularly, the depression 9 a serves to prevent any relativedisplacement of the hook 5 a relative to the slat 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple use holder comprising: a first row of at least two mutually parallel slats; a second row of at least two mutually parallel slats, the slats of the first row intersecting the slats of the second row, the slats of the first and second rows being parallel to a plane P; at least one hook for holding hollow objects and fixed to at least one slat of said first and second rows of slats, said at least one hook forming with said plane P an angle of less than 45°, the hook being fixed at an intersection of one of the slats of the first row with one of the slats of the second row, wherein said at least one hook has a tongue for holding flat objects, said tongue having a free end pointing essentially upwards, and said slats of the first and second rows each have depressions, said slats of the first and second rows being connected together by respective depressions at said interconnection.
 2. A multiple use holder comprising: a first row of at least two mutually parallel slats; a second row of at least two mutually parallel slats, the slats of the first row intersecting the slats of the second row, the slats of the first and second rows being parallel to a plane P; at least one hook for holding hollow objects and fixed to at least one slat of said first and second rows of slats, said at least one hook forming with said plane P an angle of less than 45°, the hook being fixed at an intersection of one of the slats of the first row with one of the slats of the second row, wherein said at least one hook comprises a tongue for holding flat objects, said tongue having a free end pointing essentially upwards and a short side connected to said interconnection by a wedge-shaped part integral with the tongue.
 3. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said wedge-shaped part fits into a depression in a slat of one of the first and second rows at said interconnection.
 4. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said at least one hook is connected at said interconnection using a flat-headed screw and a wing-nut, said screw passing through the wedge shaped part and said one of said slat of the first row and said one of said slats of the second row.
 5. The holder according to claim 2, wherein a centerline of said tongue, when projected perpendicularly to the plane P, coincides with a centerline of one of that slats at said interconnection. 